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Nottingham vs Rotherham Titans Match Report

Nottingham missed a good opportunity to make it back-to-back
wins as they went down 17-11 at Clifton Lane.

Looking to build on a good performance, and result, against
Plymouth Albion a week earlier they headed for Rotherham in
confident mood.

But they were left to rue a string of missed chances having
looked the better side for long periods.

An opening penalty from Rory Lynn added to the feeling of
expectation, only for Titans to reply with two kicks form Juan
Socino to take a 6-3 lead midway through the first half.

Just before the break though a missed tackle allowed winger
Michael Keating to burst into the Nottingham 22 and send Sean
Scanlon in for a try.

Socino was off-target with a difficult conversion and so Titans
led 11-3.

It was the Green and Whites who finished the half the stronger
though, but missed a couple of penalty chances that should have
reduced that deficit at the break.

Within minutes of the restart Socino landed a third penalty to
make it 14-3, but Nottingham enjoyed a long spell of dominance and
camped deep in the home 22.

As hard as they fought to break down the Rotherham defence they
just could not find a way through.

That Rotherham defence had performed with tremendous resolve to
keep Nottingham out, but when they then lost two players in quick
succession to yellow cards succession it seemed only a matter of
time before that defence would crack.

Still they held on heroically, but eventually debutant
Nottingham centre Javiah Pohe got over for an unconverted try
fifteen minutes from time.

And when Lynn put over his second penalty of the game five
minutes later that deficit was down to just three points.

But a late fourth penalty from Socino meant that Nottingham had
to settle for a losing bonus point.

Although this was a performance that deserved so much more, and
they can certainly take plenty of credit for some of their better
rugby of the season, it was also a good chance wasted.